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Vision

Madonna is the only hospital in the region to provide an extensive vision rehabilitation program delivered by specially trained experts who use state-of-the-art technology to help patients of all ages with visual impairments resulting from illness or injury to maximize their quality of life in home and community-related roles.

Vision affects a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks like walking, dressing and climbing a flight of stairs. It is also vital for a person’s thinking processes, reading and cognition. Addressing vision issues early in the rehabilitation program can improve results for many patients because vision relates directly to balance, attention and interaction with people and objects in one’s environment.

Visual problems are often overlooked during initial treatment of the injury. If these problems are hidden or neglected, it may impair and lengthen the rehabilitation process. The vision system comprises complex and sophisticated subsystems and the visual process requires flow and processing of information to the brain. If injury has disrupted the flow of visual processing, the result is a vision problem. Symptoms that may indicate a visual problem include:

Blurred vision
Sensitivity to light
Reading difficulties
Comprehension difficulties
Attention and concentration difficulties
Memory difficulties
Double vision
Aching eyes
Headaches with visual tasks
Loss of visual field
Feeling off balance

NEUROLOGICAL VISION REHABILITATION

Neurological visual deficits most commonly encountered by patients include double vision, impaired visual perception and partial vision, which can hinder rehabilitation. For instance, a stroke patient may have trouble learning to tell time because partial vision allows her to see only certain areas of the clock. Another patient may have difficulty with balance and mobility because his perception of where his center of gravity is located may not be accurate. Integrating appropriate visual strategies, techniques and equipment into transdisciplinary treatment results in better outcomes.

What does this treatment include?

Individuals referred for vision rehabilitation first receive a vision assessment by a neuro-optometrist. If appropriate for treatment, the neuro-optometrist will direct the occupational therapist on the treatment plan, which may include using specialized equipment, such as prism glasses, and teaching adaptive strategies to address vision impairments. These techniques and equipment are shared with other members of the patient’s rehabilitation team so they may be integrated into their treatment sessions to enhance learning and success. The neuro-optometrist will monitor the patient’s progress through re-evaluations and adjust the vision treatment plan according to the patient’s needs.

Who would benefit from the Vision Clinic?

People who have had a stroke, brain injury or other neurological illness or injury who experience one or
more of the following symptoms:

Views print from the corner of the eye
Collides into objects when moving about
Changes in vision throughout the day
Feels off-balance on one side
Anxious or unsure in a crowded area due to movement
Shadow vision
Easily distracted by motion on one side
Reluctant to turn head
Double vision
Shuts one eye or eye(s) appear to turn in, out, up or down
Dizziness, nausea, or spatial disorientation
Fuzzy or blurry vision
Needs to bring printed materials close to read
Has difficulty distinguishing colors
Loses place when reading
Constantly stares to one side
Easily distracted by motion on one side

The vision clinic is available on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. For an appointment or more information, call Madonna outpatient scheduling at 402.413.3900.

LOW VISION REHABILITATION

Decreased vision creates a world of new challenges, from preparing meals, to taking medication and safe mobility. Madonna offers low vision rehabilitation by specially trained occupational therapists who evaluate how reduced vision affects daily activities and offer solutions to improve function.

Low Vision Rehabilitation Services

Rehabilitation starts with a 60 to 90-minute evaluation. Tests include near and distance vision, visual fields
and reading skills to determine the person’s best visual location for seeing objects or reading.

An interview with the occupational therapist is conducted to determine strengths and weaknesses
and how much assistance is required.

New techniques and training are offered for:

Daily living skills in the home and community
Low vision aids
Alternative viewing techniques
Blind spot (scotoma) awareness
Safety
Handwriting
Reading

Who would benefit from Madonna’s Low Vision Services?

Any sighted person who has experienced changes in his or her vision that affect daily living activities.
Persons with vision less than 20/70
Persons with macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy who have experienced symptoms of low vision
Other medical conditions that contribute to low vision